UP, UP, EVER UP.
THE TRAIL CLIMBS AND SWITCHES.
TREES STAND UPWARD.
WILDFLOWER SPIKES SWAY UPWARD IN THE BREEZE.
EVERYTHING, POINTS UPWARD
TO THE HIGH COUNTRY.
I FEEL THE PULSE OF MY HEART QUICKEN AND POUND
IN MY CHEST, IN MY THROAT, AND THEN IN MY EARS AS I HIKE,
PUMPING BLOOD UPWARD – TO MY BRAIN –
CLEANSING NEURONS SOILED BY CITY AND SUBURB,
STRESS, WORRY, AND RELATIONSHIPS.
NEURONS FIRE, FREEING MY MIND
TO RECOGNIZE MY BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS,
TO APPRECIATE THEM,
TO ENJOY THEM,
TO IMMERSE MYSELF IN THEM.
THE TRAIL AHEAD DISAPPEARS AROUND THE MOUNTAIN.
IT PROMISES A NEW PERSPECTIVE AND DOESN’T DISAPPOINT.
WHEN I REACH THE TURN AND CONTINUE, I SPY MY GOAL –
THE GRANITE THRONE OF MATTERHORN PEAK
ENCASED IN GLISTENING SNOW, SURROUNDED BY WORSHIPING MOUNTAIN TOPS.
I STOP TO ADMIRE NATURE IN A NATURAL CATHEDRAL THAT
NO HUMAN HANDS COULD COPY, MUCH MORE, IMPROVE.
I FIND PEACE IN THIS TEMPLE OF SOLACE AND
MY MIND IS SOOTHED, MY SPIRIT RENEWED.
